Bib short sizing

I'm looking at ordering some bib shorts but I don't know what to make of the sizing. I wear 36 inch jeans and large bike shorts and undies work fine for me, but I've got a beer gut so I'm probably closer to 40 inches or so around my belly button. I'm looking at the Aero Tech bibs and they say L is 36-38 and XL is 38-40. Anybody have an opinion on which I'd be better off with?

I'm looking at ordering some bib shorts but I don't know what to make of the sizing. I wear 36 inch jeans and large bike shorts and undies work fine for me, but I've got a beer gut so I'm probably closer to 40 inches or so around my belly button. I'm looking at the Aero Tech bibs and they say L is 36-38 and XL is 38-40. Anybody have an opinion on which I'd be better off with?

Just remember: your jean size has almost nothing to do with your actual waist size. I wear size 32 or 34 jeans, depending on the brand and style. If I run a measuring tape around my waist, it says 36.5 inches.

Suggest you measure your waist with a measuring tape, then order accordingly. In my experience, most bibs will stretch enough to accommodate a stomach that's 2-3" larger than the waist without any problems. If your waist is near the upper end of the size range and you've got a big stomach, it probably makes sense to order the next larger size unless you prefer a very snug fit.

I'm nearly the same. I wear a 36 now. Was up near 40 last year. My belly button measurement is larger than my waist. I wear a large in Performance bibs. I think a medium may almost fit. I would go with 1 pair of larges and see how they fit before committing to more than 1 set.